On Sunday December 16, 2012 at 2:23 am, Kalamazoo Public Safety responded to an address in the 2200 block of Lakeway Avenue regarding a report of a domestic disturbance. When officers arrived at the home, the home was found to be secure and there weren’t any sounds coming from within the home. Investigating officers observed a person motionless on the floor in the home which prompted officers to force entry into the residence.

Officers located Andrea Lyn Rachdi, a 29 year old female and Nawfal Rachdi, a 25 year old male dead from what has been ruled a homicide/suicide. Autopsy results indicate that Nawfal used an edged weapon to take the life of Andrea, and then used an edged weapon to take his own life. A kitchen knife that was approximately 8” was found beside the couple. The couple’s children were with relatives at the time of the incident and no one else was inside the home.

On November 27, 2012, at approximately 2:00 pm, Kalamazoo Public Safety Officer Heath Shoemaker pulled into the parking area at Public Safety Station number 4/5 in the 600 block of North Park. The officer noticed a civilian vehicle parked in an area normally reserved for police cars. The lone occupant of the car, a 31 year old Kalamazoo man, appeared to be patiently waiting for an officer as he sat behind the wheel of his car.

PSO Shoemaker got out of his patrol car and was preparing to provide assistance to the man. Surprisingly, the driver jumped out of the vehicle, quickly advanced toward the officer, and started yelling threatening statements. The man yelled that had a gun and that he intended to kill police officers. PSO Shoemaker was able to quickly detain the man in question.

The Portage Department of Public Safety is investigating a business burglary that occurred in the 8800 Blk. of Portage Rd. At 2:25 A.M. PDPS officers were dispatched to reported burglary alarm at the West Lake Drug store. During the course of the initial investigation officers arrested four suspects who were attempting to steal controlled substances. All four suspects are from the Ohio area and were lodged in the Kalamazoo County Jail pending burglary charges. The investigation is continuing.

The Portage Department of Public Safety is requesting anyone with information concerning this investigation to call the Portage Department of Public Safety at 329-4567 or Silent Observer at 343-2100, www.kalamazoosilentobserver.com.

On November 20, 2012, KVET officers, from the Community Outreach Problem Solving Division, (C.O.P.S.), and Officers from the Kalamazoo County Metro SWAT Team executed a search warrant in the 600 block of Reed Street in reference to drug trafficking. During the raid four Kalamazoo residents were located inside, ranging in age from 22 to 39 years of age.

Officers searched the residence and found a large amount of crack cocaine, marijuana, and packaging equipment. A 24 year-old Kalamazoo man was arrested and lodged at the Kalamazoo County Jail on the charges of Possession With Intent to Deliver Crack Cocaine, Possession of Marijuana, and Maintaining a drug house. Additional charges will be sought for the other three occupants with the Kalamazoo County Prosecutor’s Office.

On July 12, 2012, the Portage Department of Public Safety took a report from the Portage Public Schools that an administrative assistant had been embezzling funds from the school by means of a school credit card.

On October 31, 2012, the female suspect was arrested and arraigned on four felony counts, which included Embezzlement over $1,000.00 and three counts of Illegal use of a Financial Transaction Device.

The defendant, Marcia Zahrt, was arraigned on those charges and released on a personal recognizance bond. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for November 8, 2012.

Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to contact the Portage Department of Public Safety at 329-4567 or Silent Observer at 343-2100, www.kalamazoosilentobserver.com.

KDPS is investigating two armed robberies that occurred within 22 minutes of each other early Saturday morning, October 27th, 2012.

The first robbery occurred at 3:14 a.m. in the 800 block of W. Walnut. The victims, ages 22 and 20, were approached by two suspects. One of the suspects was in possession of a shotgun and the other suspect had a handgun. After taking the victims money and cell phone the suspects fled west towards Davis Street. Suspect # 1 is described as being a black male in his late teens to early twenties. He is approximately 6’, thin build, and was wearing a dark colored jacket with a fur lined hood. On the back of the jacket was a Detroit Tigers “D’. Suspect # 2 is described as a black male, same age, approximately 5’6” tall, wearing a dark colored jacket and blue jeans.